THE RESULT OF A MISTAKE IN CORTISOL ASSAY IN SERUM/PLASMA, URINE AND RECENTLY IN SALIVA, MAY BE SERIOUS IF IT IS USED TO SELECTION CLINICAL MANAGEMENT. THUS CAREFUL SELECTION, ASSESSMENT, AND CONTROL OF LABORATORY TESTS FOR CORTISOL ARE ESSENTIAL. SUCH AS OTHER HORMONAL TESTS, THE PRE-ANALYTICAL, ANALYTICAL AND POST-ANALYTICAL STEPS MUST BE CAREFULLY CONTROLLED WITH ATTENTION TO THE GENERAL AND SPECIFIC PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH TYPE OF ASSAY...